Was wondering what everyone's thoughts are here on the value of a #s matching '69 with a crate engine put in and the matching # engine put on stands. I am not looking for a value for my specific '69, I am looking to see what peoples thoughts are if a '69 matching #s L46 car was worth "$X", would it be worth, X, X+ or X- if I were to sell it one day with a crate engine installed and the original matching #s engine on a stand. Before someone asks why I might do this, let me answer the question - this is my first classic car and, although the car isn't a dog, I think I might enjoy it more with more horsepower and don't want to tinker with the original engine. I am not ready to do this now, just thinking about a future possibility. Thanks all.

 

I think any quality classic car these days with a good crate motor (ZZ4, ZZ383, Edelbrock 350, 383, etc) will increase in value $2K - $4K alone. If you have the original motor on a stand then I think it brings it up a notch, $3K - $5K. However there are plenty of people out there that do not care about an original motor so it all depends who is buying the car. An engine on a stand just for the sake of having it is viewed as a boat anchor on wheels by many.

 

IMO it would be $X. If the original is in good operating condition.

 

That makes sense to me. I paid for a numbers matching car and to in hindsight wish I paid less and bought a crate powered car. Now that I have the car though I just want to make sure if I did decide to do this that the # buying crowd wouldn't ding the value for the car as long as the orignal # match is on a stand.

 

That is a good point. What is the best way to preserve and cover the original in my garage? I am in South Fla. Also, would I need to do anything to maintain the engine if I kept it stored for say 5 years?

 

Thats the way it was done before the NCRS....not enough HP, put a better one in....the old one was normally thrown away...today there called a service replacement engine. and the car is now called a restomod.........

 

I'd always be looking for an original drivetrain corvette....the fact the original was out of the car would for me be a minus and I would probably move on to one that I didn't have to "make right".

 

I was waiting for someone to say that I guess I have to say when I was looking for mine I would have passed on a car that had a crate and had the original on a stand. Just frustrating because it is not a show car, it is a really, really nice '69 w/factory side pipes, convertible driver. I guess if I do go this route there will be some portion of those like yourself who would pass or drop price for that. I appreciate both the NCRS/orginal folks on this forum as well as the restomod guys. I am either going to end up doing this or buying a restomod one day and hopefully having both. It is the physical beauty of the '69 that I love and BBs are pretty expensive. Someone recently sold on this site a really hot and well done '69 restomod that was so damn tempting - if only I didn't lose my job

 

There is a tendency that once the original engine comes out, it never goes back in.

And then the Original Numbers value goes out the door when they finally get separated.

the way to ensure this not happening is to put the engine you want to lay with in and leave time when you sell to put the original back in.

While I would value finding one with the original engine, I'd have to subtract the value of the work needed to install it back in there. And odds are once you remove it, a lot of other original items are going to find their way out of your car.

 

Makes sense. I am leaning toward doing nothing and getting a restomod to sit next to her original sister one day. I know these cars shouldn't be bought as investments but rather to enjoy, I am just amazed at how quickly one gets underwater with them.

 

I think putting in a crate motor is a good idea as long as you keep the original. If it comes time to sell it, you can advertise it as having the original motor and, if need be, swap the engines again for the new owner and keep or sell the crate motor.

DC

 

If I had the ability to personally do the removal and install I would do it. Cost and aggravation of having to pay someone else to do this would make it not worth it to me. If I could sell it one day with the original on a stand and not get dinged for it I would probably do it one day, but it seems that is not the case.

 

Make some new friends!

I bet if you create a thread, and ask for some help from local CF members, you would get plenty of help to pull the engine. You would learn a heck of a lot about your car. And, you would be making some new friends to boot (which will come in handy if/when you decide to put the original back in).

One nice thing is that if you pull the engine, and put the original back in when you go to sell, you will be able to detail the engine bay. Buyers seem to really like nice pretty engine bays.

I too might be hesitant about buying a car with a crate engine in, and the original on the stand. I wouldn't want to pay 'original engine' price, because I would have no idea if it ran. So I would plan on putting the original back in before I went to sell it. But I do something to show that the crate engine was recently in the car, and ran well (maybe take a video?). You might be able to interest the buyer into buying the crate engine.

 

What I would do to an engine that is already running is use a marine fogging oil. Spray it down the carb until it smokes like crap and shut it off. Store the engine. Of course I would have fresh engine oil in it too, and have fuel stabilizer in the gasoline.
I have done this with motorcycles in the past and left them sit for 10 years. I live in SD, so there is plenty of climate change too. When they start again, they will smoke like a banshee for quite a while. Clean the plugs and have fresh fuel and change the oils. Good to go again.

 

I was just going to ask a similar question! I ended up with a #s car but I don't think I paid for a #s car...I got lucky. The thought of a crate motor and a 5 speed did cross my mind but for now I'm keeping them as is.

Now what about other parts? Does replacing other original parts have the same kind of effect as with the drivetrain or would someone like gq82 not care that the A-Arms are not original/correct, that the rear spring is not original/correct, radiator, shocks, brakes etc.... (originals would be set aside and available)

Basically, what I would like to do is improve the suspension and brakes by going to aftermarket/performance...but am afraid that the value may diminish even if original parts are available but not on the car.

Any thoughts?

 

I think everyone makes good points 69Vette. It sounds like in your case you want more power to enhance the driving experience of your car. If you have the room I would properly preserve the motor on a stand for the next buyer. Putting in a lower HP original motor to sell a car makes no sense. If someone buys your car in the future and they do not want the original motor you should have no problem selling it. Just make sure you document that it came out of your car and you could even go a step further and video tape it running in your car before pulling it. Evidence of a fully running factory Corvette engine should be worth something! Let us know what you decide as this is a very good topic.

 

I'm a firm believer in pulling the #s matching engine if its a daily driven car.

 

Sell your 69 as is and find something you like more. Best of both worlds. You won't be sweating the 69 and you'll have the fast burner you want.

Tryng to speculate on a potential value after an engine swap is very shaky ground. Personally, if I was buying, I would not want your 69 without the original engine BUT having the original as part of the deal might bring me to your door. Other potential buyers would not care and still others would never know the engine was not original.

Food For Thought: What if you trade the 69, get the fast burner you think you will like better, then learn you do not like the fast burner? Wuh-whoa.

 

If I were looking to buy another Corvette I personally don't get too hung up on the original engine block unless the car is being presented as a survivor, low mileage original, or maybe a high end car which I'd be concerned may have been "upgraded" from a base model..

However, there are people out there who will pay a significant premium for a matching numbers car, mainly because they are after one which hasn't been "messed with". I can't imagine many would be interested in paying the markup for numbers for a car which they would have to reinstall the original engine and hope all other parts are there. Not to mention questioning whether the original engine needs a rebuild or may have some issues which are not apparent sitting on a stand.

If the numbers crowd is correct, someone will pay a premium for the numbers, I'd suggest selling and buying one which is already a NOM. No worries about numbers with NOMs. Free to do what ever you like to the motor or the rest of the car for that matter. From what I often hear, the NOMs sell for less so in theory you would be ahead to start.

If you're really attached to the car you have now, save the original motor. You won't get as much for the car with it out but probably more than you may without the original engine. Discount would be what a buyer would demand for the trouble to reinstall and some risk of other hidden issues.

 

Thanks all for your input. A forum member that I met already has offered to help me if I decided to go the route of pulling the engine. Great idea from you guys about videotaping and documenting that the engine came from my car and was running fine. Easy Mike - I have really grown attached to my car in a very short time and would have a hard time trading it in for another one - really love the fathom green, side pipes, interior, etc. I think for the time being, I have decided to keep the car original and when I win Lotto or can afford it, buy a restomod, but never part with my green machine.